diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 55e6cfe..b4647dc 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -22,4 +22,9 @@ cmk_auth: "&_username={{ cmk_username }}&_secret={{ cmk_secret }}"
 
 # This variable is used to detect whether this is a fresh install
 # Is changed to true if check-mk-agent gets installed
-cmk_fresh_install: false
\ No newline at end of file
+cmk_fresh_install: false
+
+# This variable if set to true will force installation to run regardless of whether
+# CheckMK is already installed. 
+# Breaks idempotence but allows role to be used to force upgrade agents.
+cmk_force_install: false
diff --git a/tasks/RedHat.yml b/tasks/RedHat.yml
index 9f6a88b..7cc2742 100644
--- a/tasks/RedHat.yml
+++ b/tasks/RedHat.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@
       file:
         path: /tmp/check-mk-agent.rpm
         state: absent
-  when: "'check-mk-agent' not in ansible_facts.packages"
+  when: "'check-mk-agent' not in ansible_facts.packages or cmk_force_install"
   tags:
     - check_mk_agent